P^rf-"^ PoT-p^"^-SP^^-^^ 

March 22. 2012 

©Elflsijingtoit, S C 20510 ^ ' '''"' ' " v; u.M/-;iiUiVo 

'I -:n2 3 A €: I ! 

The Honorable Ray LaHoocl, Secretary 

United Slates Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

We are writing regarding Essential Air Service (EAS) at Alpena, Ndichigan. As you know, the Department of 

Transportation issued an order re-soliciting proposals lor a third time on January 10, 2012. Proposals were due 

by January 31. 2012. 

On January 30, 2012 Matthew Waligora, Mayor of Alpena requested that the Department extend the request for 

proposal time period beyond January 31, 2012. hi response, the Department issued a notice of extension stating 

that "we recognize the importance the community places on this issue, and thus will grant a two-week 

extension." At the end of this time period, only one bid was submitted that was strongly rejected by the 

community. 

As you will note from the enclosed correspondence, the Alpena City Council. Alpena County Commission. 

.'\lpena County Regional Airport. Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce and the Target Alpena Economic 

Development Office all request that the Department reject the current bid proposal and issue another request for 

proposals. Most recently the community has contacted SkyWest Airlines and American Eagle Airlines as well 

as begun discussions about applying for Alternate Essential Air Service funding. Providing more time to pursue 

these discussions could result in an air service provider being found that is supported by the community. 

We ask that the Department re-issue the request for proposals. We believe that this additional time will only 

strengthen the options available to the community as they pursue a replacement to Delta Airlines. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Your response may be directed to our regional offices at the 

addresses below. 

Sincerely, 

Carl Levin 

107 Cass Street, Suite E 

Traverse City, Ml 49684 

Debbie Stabenow 

South Airport Road West, Suite 6B 

fraversc Citv, MI 49684 

Dan Benishek 

810 S. Otsego Ave.. Suite 105 

Gavlord, MI 49735 

Enclosure 
City of Alpena 

March 19,2012 

U.S. Senator Carl Levin 

269 Russell Office Building 

Washington, DC 20510-2202 

RE: Alpena Air Service 

Dear Senator Levin, 

As you are aware, the U.S. Department of Transportation will be making a decision very soon 

regarding the current round of bids for EAS funding to provide air service to Alpena, Michigan. 

With the support of the Alpena City Council, the Alpena County Commissioners, the Alpena 

County Regional Airport Manager, the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Target 

Alpena Economic Development Director, the Mayor of Alpena requested that the DOT reject the 

current bid proposal and open a fourth cycle, and we are asking you to support our decision. 

This entire process has been very costly and time consuming for the leaders of our community 

and we feel that our local tax payers deserve more time for us to finish what we have started. 

And the federal tax payers deserve to know that EAS funding is being spent as efficiently and 

effectively as possible. 

We have formed a team of representatives from each of the above named entities and secured 

the services of a professional airline consultant. Since then, we have visited SkyWest Airlines 

and they strongly considered bidding in the third round. We have also been in direct contact 

with American Eagle Airlines. We are in active discussions with Public Charters and just two 

days ago learned that their alternative EAS funding proposal was approved to provide service to 

Manistee, Michigan. This program is new, so therefore will take us time to learn and understand 

if it will fit the needs of our community. 
We understand the DOT's responsibility to relieve Delta of its obligation to provide air service to 

our community, but we also have a responsibility to our constituents and feel that it is not asking 

too much to give us more time, measured in months, to do what is in the best interest of 

everyone in Northeast Michigan. 

We have made great strides in the last several weeks, but all tangible offers are hinging on one 

decision or another and we're told that it will take some time before any commitments can be 

made by airlines that are considering an agreement with Alpena. 

The Alpena City Council unanimously approved the contents of this letter and strongly urges 

you to echo our voice to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Thank you for your attention to 

this matter and for representing our great community and its growing economy. 

Sincerely, 

Matthew J. Waligora 

Mayor of Alpena 

MPEIIA